When I come to, I’m surrounded by darkness and a claustrophobic feeling. As if the whole world was pressing down on me, threatening to compress me into nonexistence.
I have to get out! So, I push and encounter walls. I strain against them as hard as I can and then… they simply give way.
Huh. That went much easier than I expected. Especially in contrast to all those stories I read. At least I assume this is something similar to that. Anyway, if what is happening is what I think is happening, then I should have been reincarnated inside an egg. But in the stuff I read, it’s always much harder for people to break out of the egg.
Ah, no matter, I’m sure to figure it out soon enough.
I continue to push against the walls of my (presumed) egg. The weirdly mushy walls. Okay, yeah. Something weird is definitely going on.
Finally, I manage to stick my head (at least I think it’s my head) out and see… And see… And. See… Nothing. Just light. Or rather, just brightness.
Oh no, no, no, no, no. Is this what that stupid Humanity was talking about just before it sent me away? Am I truly stuck in creatures that are so simple so as to not have proper vision?
Oh, this is going to suck so muuuuuuch!
After my brief bout of despair, I give into my fate and continue wiggling my way out of my egg. Which isn’t that hard due to its softness, but that just makes me worried about how safe I actually was inside.
Then, already resigned to do what has already been repeated by so many other reincarnators, I begin eating the egg remains.
And it is while I’m doing that that a notification pops up in my head.
> CONGRATULATION!
>
> You’ve reached sufficient maturity and are now considered and independent actor of your creature type: Caterpillar!
>
> Your base physical stats are 1!
>
> As a caterpillar you gain:
> >> The caterpillar ability Metamorphosis!
Ah, that’d explain it. I’m a weak ass caterpillar, and I guess those don’t have exactly stellar vision.
But it seems we’re not done yet.
> Your innate trait, Past Life Holdover, activated! Select an ability to keep permanently!
>
> Metamorphosis automatically selected!
>
> Metamorphosis has become innate!
>
> Innate abilities can be levelled!
>
> Metamorphosis reaches level 0!
Ah, of course. Well, that’s my first life wasted. Didn’t even have a choice.
I really hope Humanity can somehow fix this, because that trait is pretty useless if I can only choose from stuff I have from the very beginning.
By the time the notifications finish, I’ve already devoured my whole egg, sating the hunger I almost didn’t even notice.
Now then, if there are notifications, there must surely also be a STATUS!
> Name: None
>
> The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
>
> Creature type: Caterpillar
>
> Level: 0
>
> Strength: 1
> Dexterity: 1
> Constitution: 1
>
> Abilities:
> >> (innate) Metamorphosis Level 0
>
> Traits:
> >> (innate) Past Life Holdover
> >> (innate) Reincarnator
> >> (innate) At Least A Little Human
Okay, scratch that. I’m not only weak AF, I’m downright squishy! Yes, yes, I know. Caterpillars are, in general, squishy, but that doesn’t mean I have to be! How am I even supposed to do anything like this? A bird could fly down at any moment and gobble me up!
It’s not like I’m left with much choice here though. And at least there’s the safety net of reincarnation if this goes badly. When it goes badly, more like.
And so, I do as a caterpillar does. I begin to crawly in search of some juicy leaves. I’m already beginning to feel hungry again.
There’s just one problem. I’m in a weird and unfamiliar body. Which I can’t properly control.
Oh, I just know this is going to be hell. How am I even supposed to learn this? Don’t caterpillars have like, a hundred legs?
Actually, are they even called legs? They don’t really resemble them in any way. Not that that’s important here.
I pause as I smell something in the air. Something delicious. A nice and juicy leaf.
Before I know it, I’m already scurrying in the direction of the smell. Which is still pretty damn slow, since I’m a caterpillar.
Also, I make sure to pay attention to what my body is doing. I’ll need to be able to replicate this once I can no longer rely on my instincts to move me.
After a little while I arrive at the correct spot. I think. It’s not like I can see much. But my sense of touch sure is telling me that this is a good fresh leaf. Okay, that’s also pretty trippy.
I don’t delay any longer and munch down on the leafy goodness under me. And the taste is… oh god damnit, not this too!
I meant, the taste is fine, good even, but it’s just coming from the wrong place! Seriously, who designed these creatures? And why would they give them tastebuds on the outside of their mouth?
I continue like this for a little while, just peacefully munching on a leaf.
And then it moves. It’s nothing major, just a slight wobble, but I can immediately distinguish it from the regular bobbing of the wind.
I freeze. Damn! Is that a predator? Is my first second life truly going to be so short? I haven’t even become a butterfly! No, I won’t let this be the end of me. I’ll face whatever it is in combat, even if it may kill me.
I slowly turn around, thankful that my opponent is apparently similarly slow. And then, I bravely approach my enemy.
I can’t actually see what it is (I can only detect brightness), but the vibrations in the leaf give me a pretty good idea of where it is.
The distance between us shortens, out battle epic battle approaching. I can almost feel the cold grip of death on me.
We connect and… it’s… wriggling? Like me? What?
Shocked, frozen solid, I found myself unable to move for the longest while. And then it clicked.
It’s my sibling! Or cousin, or whatever. Whew, I was beginning to worry there for a minute. I for sure thought this was the end.
I distance myself from my distant (maybe not that distant) relative and get back to munching. This time, with company.
It’s actually kind of nice, knowing there’s someone else with me and I’m not alone. Sure, it’s just a mindless caterpillar (unless I’ve been the victim of a cosmic joke and we are both reincarnators), and I can’t actually interact with it in any way, but I like it. Sort of like simply silently hanging out with a friend, both of you comfortable in each other’s presence to just enjoy it in silence.
More time passes and I the brightness I see begins to dim.
I suppose the day would have to come to an end eventually, wouldn’t it? I slowly shuffle under the, by now much smaller, leaf and curl up. It’s time for sleep!
And nothing much happens.
Huh? Is there something wrong with me? Then again, I don’t really feel tired. And now that I focus on it, my leaf mate is still out there munching on greens.
Oh, what the hell, might as well continues too. I’ll get some rest when I actually feel tired.
And that’s how the next few days pass. There’s not much variance in the life of a caterpillar. Every now and then I’d move to a different leaf, but otherwise my days consisted of just constant eating. I did eventually fall asleep, but even that lasted just a couple of minutes.
I think I’ve grown a lot since I was born, but it’s hard to tell without some kind of reference point. But even with that, I’m starting to feel bored. There’s just nothing to do as a caterpillar!
Worst of all, my system hasn’t updated even the slightest bit! Not level ups, no experience gain, no new skills. Nothing!
Honestly, this is not what I was imagining when Humanity told me I’d be getting isekaid. I’d have hoped for at least some kind of growth on my part, and I do not mean the literal kind.
Maybe I could try to do something special, maybe gain an achievement or something. Are there even achievements? No idea.
What about skills, could I get some of those? Well, what can a caterpillar actually even do that I can master and can be considered a skill?
Not much, really. I can only chew and move. Don’t exactly have the appendages for much more than that.
Oh well, back to chewing it is.